Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS BIG 10
Apply for FWS BIG 10
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the business and commerce community development environment natural resources regional development transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Tier II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.622 Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2009 and posted on Jun 1, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 25, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program Tier II is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help build and maintain boating facilities that serve transient, nontrailerable recreational vessels. The program was created by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), which amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (also known as the Wallop-Breaux Act, 16 U.S.C. 777). Its core purpose is to improve boating access and amenities for larger recreational boats that typically cannot be transported on trailers, supporting safer and more functional stopover destinations for boaters traveling away from their home ports.
A key point in this program is the definition of the vessels it is meant to serve. Under the authorizing law, nontrailerable recreational vessels are generally those that are 26 feet in length or longer and are operated primarily for pleasure, including vessels that are leased, rented, or chartered for someone else to use for recreation. The facilities funded under BIG Tier II are therefore aimed at meeting the needs of this larger-vessel segment, particularly for transient use (short-term stays), rather than local day-use or small-boat launching infrastructure.
For the funding cycle described in the announcement (Funding Opportunity Number FWS BIG 10), the agency anticipated awarding roughly $10,000,000 in total Tier II funding for FY 2010, with an expected 12 awards. The prior year context included more than $12.4 million awarded in FY 2009 to 11 states for 14 projects, which signals that awards can be sizeable and competitive, and that multiple projects may be supported across a smaller number of jurisdictions depending on national scoring and selection.
Eligibility for this Tier II opportunity is limited to state governments (and, by program statute, it also applies to the District of Columbia, U.S. commonwealths, and territories, though the listing here specifies state governments as eligible applicants). The opportunity also includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds or eligible in-kind contributions as part of the project financing package, consistent with BIG program rules.
The program is categorized across several activity areas, reflecting the broad public benefits that boating infrastructure can provide: business and commerce, community development, environment and natural resources, regional development, and transportation. In practical terms, projects often tie together recreation and tourism spending, safer navigation and mooring, and improved coastal or waterfront infrastructure that supports travel corridors for larger recreational vessels.
Program requirements and participation standards are governed by a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2001 (66 FR 5282), which is the foundational regulatory reference for BIG. Additional program details and guidance were provided through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website referenced in the notice.
Administratively, this specific opportunity was posted June 1, 2009, created June 22, 2009, and had an application closing date of September 25, 2009 (with the archive date listed as October 25, 2009). The award floor is listed as $0, which typically indicates that award sizes may vary and that no minimum per-award amount is guaranteed in the listing, even though Tier II projects are generally larger and more complex than smaller-tier efforts.
For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or addressing submission questions, the notice lists a program contact: Christy Vigfusson, Biologist (Grants), reachable by phone at 703-358-1748.
Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program Tier II (FWS BIG 10) - FAQs
What is the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program Tier II?
The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program Tier II is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It helps build and maintain boating facilities designed to serve transient, nontrailerable recreational vessels, focusing on improving boating access and amenities for larger recreational boats.
What is the main purpose of BIG Tier II funding?
The core purpose is to improve boating access and amenities for larger recreational vessels that typically cannot be transported on trailers. The program supports safer and more functional stopover destinations for boaters traveling away from their home ports, with an emphasis on transient (short-term) use rather than local day-use infrastructure.
What types of boaters and vessels does this program target?
The program targets users of nontrailerable recreational vessels. Under the authorizing law, these vessels are generally 26 feet in length or longer and operated primarily for pleasure. This includes vessels that are leased, rented, or chartered for someone else to use for recreation.
What does "nontrailerable recreational vessel" mean in this notice?
In this notice, nontrailerable recreational vessels are generally defined as vessels that are 26 feet in length or longer and are used primarily for pleasure (including leased, rented, or chartered recreational use).
What does "transient" mean for BIG Tier II projects?
"Transient" refers to short-term stays by visiting boaters traveling away from their home ports. Facilities funded under BIG Tier II are aimed at supporting these short-term, stopover needs rather than primarily serving local, long-term, or day-use boating activity.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this specific announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is FWS BIG 10.
Who is eligible to apply for BIG Tier II under this listing?
Eligibility for this Tier II opportunity is limited to state governments, as specified in the listing.
Does the program statute mention any other eligible jurisdictions besides states?
Yes. By program statute, it also applies to the District of Columbia, U.S. commonwealths, and territories, although the eligibility field in this listing specifies state governments as eligible applicants.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds or eligible in-kind contributions as part of the project financing package, consistent with BIG program rules.
How much funding was anticipated for this Tier II cycle (FY 2010)?
For the funding cycle described, the agency anticipated awarding roughly $10,000,000 in total Tier II funding for FY 2010.
How many awards were expected for FY 2010 under this announcement?
The announcement indicated an expectation of about 12 awards.
What does the notice say about awards in the prior year (FY 2009)?
The notice references that in FY 2009, more than $12.4 million was awarded to 11 states for 14 projects, indicating that awards can be sizeable and competitive and that multiple projects may be supported across a smaller number of jurisdictions.
Is there a minimum award size?
The award floor is listed as $0. This typically indicates that award sizes may vary and that no minimum per-award amount is guaranteed in the listing.
What activity areas are associated with this program?
The program is categorized across several activity areas: business and commerce, community development, environment and natural resources, regional development, and transportation.
What kinds of public benefits are associated with BIG Tier II projects (based on the activity areas listed)?
Based on the activity areas provided, BIG Tier II projects may relate to recreation and tourism spending, safer navigation and mooring, and improved coastal or waterfront infrastructure that supports travel corridors for larger recreational vessels.
What law created the BIG Program?
The program was created by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), which amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (also known as the Wallop-Breaux Act, 16 U.S.C. 777).
What regulation governs BIG program requirements and participation standards?
Program requirements and participation standards are governed by a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2001 (66 FR 5282).
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
This opportunity was posted on June 1, 2009. The application closing date was September 25, 2009.
What are the created date and archive date listed in the notice?
The notice lists a created date of June 22, 2009, and an archive date of October 25, 2009.
Who can applicants contact for help with the announcement or submission questions?
The notice lists Christy Vigfusson, Biologist (Grants), as the program contact. The phone number provided is 703-358-1748.
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